The Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) — a proposed Government buyback programme for Housing Board flats nearing the end of their 99-year lease — will “likely happen” in the first half of 2030s, said Minister for National Development (MND) Chee Hong Tat.In a wide-ranging interview with the local media on Aug 5, Chee said that his ministry will use the current term of Parliament of up to five years to “develop the policy framework and parameters” for Vers. This includes identifying possible sites where the scheme will be first offered, ensuring that there are sufficient homes for those involved to relocate to, and working out a “fair” compensation package for residents whose flats are taken back early. “We do not need to scale up Vers until sometime in the late 2030s when the older flats reach their 70-year mark,” said Chee, who was appointed MND minister on May 23.”When we are ready, MND and HDB will engage Singaporeans on the framework and policy parameters to take in further and feedback. Our plan is to progressively offer Vers to selected estates in different parts of Singapore."

The Government is looking at the possibility of raising the eligibility income ceiling for couples and families, as well as lowering the age at which singles can apply for a new Housing Board (HDB) flat,  Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat has said.In his first sit-down interview with the local media on Aug 5 since his appointment as minister, Chee said that any such changes will depend on whether there is an adequate supply of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to meet the anticipated increase in demand.The current BTO income ceiling for families and married couples is $14,000 a month, while singles must be at least 35 years old to be eligible to purchase public housing.Chee said that lowering the age limit for singles, as well as raising the income ceiling will lead to more Singaporeans qualifying to buy a BTO flat, causing the demand to go up.“Without a strong supply of BTO flats, we will not be able to meet this new demand… it’s important for us to create the right conditions to be able to make these policy moves,” he said.

A Gazan family granted the right to settle in Britain under a scheme intended for Ukrainians. A convicted rapist who avoided deportation to Afghanistan.

Some presidential prospects have embraced “Sister Souljah moments” that demonstrate their independence from left-wing orthodoxy.

The corrosive forces that brought the nation’s politics to this point long predated Donald Trump.

The National Capital Planning Commission has taken years to approve much smaller White House projects than a ballroom planned by President Trump.

Hargeisa (HOL) – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Cirro has overturned a decision by telecom giants Telesom and Somtel to double internet service prices, a move that had sparked public outrage and prompted plans for large-scale protests on Sunday.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Commander of the Somali National Army’s Ground Forces, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, visited the recently liberated town of Bariire in Lower Shabelle on Saturday following a decisive victory over al-Shabaab.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will meet opposition leaders at Villa Somalia on Sunday for high-stakes talks aimed at resolving disputes over constitutional amendments and the country’s 2026 elections.

Israel has approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, prompting widespread condemnation and concerns Read Full Article at RT.com

US officials say the politician’s participation in Alaska meeting remains possible but is not a priority Read Full Article at RT.com

A weapons depot has leaked irradiated water into a Scottish loch several times, according to a watchdog Read Full Article at RT.com

Tejashwi Yadav accused Bihar's Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha of voter fraud, claiming Sinha is registered in two constituencies with different ages and EPIC numbers. Yadav questioned the Election Commission's role, alleging possible forged signatures and deliberate facilitation of duplicate registrations for BJP supporters. The Election Commission refuted Yadav's claims, deeming the presented EPIC as fake and demanding its submission.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three Vande Bharat Express trains from Bengaluru, connecting Bengaluru to Belagavi, Amritsar to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and Nagpur to Pune. He toured the Vande Bharat Express, interacting with schoolchildren. Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated Bangalore Metro's Yellow Line, expanding the city's metro network. He also laid the foundation stone for Bangalore Metro Phase 3.

Rahul Gandhi has intensified his conflict with the Election Commission of India, alleging compromised democratic processes and launching a public support platform. He demands transparency and access to digital voter rolls for public auditing, citing potential 'vote theft' in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Following Rahul Gandhi's allegations regarding Operation Sindoor, BJP leaders have strongly criticized the Congress MP for echoing a Pakistani narrative and undermining the armed forces. Kiren Rijiju and Amit Malviya shared IAF Chief AP Singh's remarks, emphasizing the government's clear political will and the freedom granted to the forces during the operation.

There were over 118,000 cases of speed violations in the first half of 2025 —  a 45.5 per cent increase compared to the year before, the Traffic Police (TP) said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 7). Previously, speeding violations reached a 10-year-high of around 201,400 in the whole of 2024, a 72.9 per cent increase from 2023.Since 2024, TP have stepped up enforcement measures and increased the activation function of red-light cameras which have detected over 42,400 speeding violations since April 2024. «However, despite these stepped-up enforcement measures, the persistent rise in violations clearly indicates that enforcement alone is insufficient,»  the statement said, urging road users to «play their part» and curb speeding violations.Determined to end surge in speedingSpeaking with media on Thursday, Superintendent Lian Weixiong, head of the research, planning and organisational development branch of TP, highlighted the surge in speeding violations in the first half of the year.

Figures from admissions body UCAS show many top universities are accepting severely underperforming students in a bid to fulfil equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets.

For most families, it is naturally a new baby's first name - rather than its surname - which inspires fevered debate.

The total number of received applications for TUE permits since the start of the year amounted to 109

Tejashwi Yadav accused Bihar's Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha of voter fraud, claiming Sinha is registered in two constituencies with different ages and EPIC numbers. Yadav questioned the Election Commission's role, alleging possible forged signatures and deliberate facilitation of duplicate registrations for BJP supporters. The Election Commission refuted Yadav's claims, deeming the presented EPIC as fake and demanding its submission.

IF I asked you to list the things that God hates, would ‘dishonour’ have made the list? Would you agree with the sentiment that God despises dishonour? It’s a strong word to use, so take a second and mull it over. We’ve been discussing the Kingdom...

TODAY I will respond to the following: “Good day, Fr Major-Campbell. I just finished reading an article in The Sunday Gleaner titled ‘Jesus didn’t found Christianity – He undermined religious elitism’. These are the views of another religious...

Hello mi neighbour! My friend is not well and is being forced to suffer the inconvenience of loud noise from an excavator being used to remove stones from a lot near to her residence. Developers are getting ready to erect a wall for a set of...

WASHINGTON (AP): It’s official: Older people worried about cognitive decline can stay sharper for longer by exercising both their bodies and their brains and eating healthier. That’s according to initial results released last Monday from a rigorous...

AP: A coin-size device that tracks the rise and fall of sugar in your blood is the latest source of hope – and hype – in the growing buzz around wearable health technology. Continuous glucose monitors, small patches that provide 24-hour insight...

Police say a suspect opened fire on people gathered outside in Baltimore, Maryland Read Full Article at RT.com

William Webster was the only man to have led both the top US federal law-enforcement agency and Washington’s primary intelligence service Read Full Article at RT.com

A Kazan resident named Jesus Petrovich Christ has been found guilty of illegally registering dozens of foreign workers Read Full Article at RT.com

There are tens of thousands of parakeets in the UK, according to estimates, but experts claim that they will soon come under threat from goshawks.

The heartbreaking accident happened yesterday at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in the village of the same name in Northamptonshire. Pictured: Ms Yorke

Raised in a 25-room Dorset stately home, Constance Marten's childhood was luxurious beyond the wildest dreams of her fellow inmates at HMP Bronzefield.

Police arrested a 49-year-old man in Toa Payoh on Saturday (Aug 9) for causing hurt by dangerous weapon.A video posted to social media the same day showed several police officers below a block of HDB flats, along with police vehicles and an ambulance. A group of people dressed in red T-shirts were also seen gathered in the area, and a police cordon was observed along a pathway leading to a coffee shop at the void deck.In a statement from the Singapore Police Force to AsiaOne, police said they had received a call for assistance at Block 168, Toa Payoh Lorong 1 on Saturday at 8.30pm.A 49-year-old man was arrested for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon and a penknife was seized as a case exhibit.Both the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force stated that a 59-year-old man was conveyed while conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.Police added that investigations are ongoing.[[nid:716001]]candicecai@asiaone.com

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi shared details about Operation Sindoor. It followed the Pahalgam attack. The government gave the army a free hand. Indian forces struck terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh revealed the destruction of Pakistani assets. He credited the government's clear political will. The operation galvanised the nation.

The Congress party has launched a portal to garner public support for Rahul Gandhi's «vote chori» allegations, demanding digital voter rolls. The platform showcases purported evidence of electoral fraud and encourages citizens to register their opposition. Gandhi claims a BJP-ECI collusion led to manipulated voter lists, citing a Karnataka constituency as an example.